Neville Dilkes Conducts English Music, Vol. 2

Neville Dilkes' first LP of English music was popular around these parts, so here is the second volume. It was released in early 1972, so it was probably recorded in 1971 - possibly at the same sessions that produced the earlier album.

For this set, the conductor again chose 20th century composers, all of whom were inspired by early music or folk song. George Butterworth returns, joined by Walter Leigh, Peter Warlock, John Ireland and E.J. Moeran.

Neville Dilkes

As with the previous record, the critics were pleased. Here is Edward Greenfield in The Gramophone: "An enchanting collection, every item of which I warmly commend to lovers of English music ... If anything the playing on this second disc from the English Sinfonia is even better than on the first with warm, firm string tone. The recording is vivid and involving in the same way as before, though not surprisingly the harpsichord is balanced very far forward in the Concertino ..."

Walter Leigh

The LP begins with perhaps the least familiar music of all the pieces recorded - the Harpsichord Concertino by Walter Leigh, a highly skilled composer killed in the Second World War at age 36. The work is an utter delight, blending neo-classicism with a pastoral influence in the gorgeous Andante. Pace Mr. Greenfield, but I do not think Dilkes' fluent harpsichord playing is too loud, nor do I agree that the Andante is taken too slowly.

The Holy Boy, a carol, is perhaps the best known work by John Ireland (1879-1962). Originally for piano, it exists in 16 different arrangements by the composer and others Here it is found in the 1941 version for string orchestra.

George Butterworth

Butterworth is represented by his two English Idylls. As Greenfield wrote, they "are less elaborate than the more famous tone poems which Dilkes included on his earlier disc of English music but they reflect a completely uninhibited approach to folk-song, a simple joy in morning - fresh melodies played as often as not on the orchestra's nearest relation to a pastoral reed-pipe, the oboe."

Peter Warlock

From another short-lived composer, Peter Warlock (Philip Heseltine), who lived from 1894-1930, we have his sparkling Capriol Suite of dances, inspired by Renaissance music. This captivating music is perhaps his most popular work, although his best is probably the haunting song cycle The Curlew on Yeats poems. It has appeared here in the recording by Alexander Young and instrumentalists, which is newly remastered. Constant Lambert's recording of the Capriol Suite can be found here.

John Ireland and E.J. Moeran

E.J. Moeran (1894-1950) was a friend of both John Ireland and Peter Warlock. On this LP, we have his Two Pieces for Small Orchestra. The first, Lonely Waters, elaborates on a Norfolk folk song. Its companion, Whythorne's Shadow, takes inspiration from a work by the Elizabethan composer Thomas Whythorne. In both cases, the source works are transformed greatly by Moeran's artistry.

This is another well-recorded and absorbing release from the English Sinfonia and Dilkes. Next in this series is their recording of Moeran's Symphony in G minor.

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